Valve for compound engines



QNo Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l* J. H. EIGKERSHOPP.

VALVE FOR COMPOUND'BNGINES.

Noymg. l 'Paten ed oww/31891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. EIGKERSHOFF.

VALVE EUR GOMPOUND ENGINES.

110.461,896. Patented Oct.27,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

`JOHN I'I. EICKERSIIOFF, OF CINCINNATI, OIIIO.

VALVE FOR COlVlPOUND ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,896, dated October27, 1891.

Application led August 5. 1891. Serial No.401,809. (No modeLl .T0 allwhom it may concer-n,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. EICKERsHoFE, a citizen of the United States`residing at Cincinnati, in the county of, Hamilton and State of Ohio,have invented new and useful Improvements in Valves for CompoundEngines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to compound steamengines, its object being toimprove the same in respect to the steam distribution, and, as appliedto engines of two or more cylinders, to economize in structure and cost,in addition.

'lo this end my invention consists, primarily, in anoveldistribution-valve, which is cheaply made and efficient in operation,tending to simplicity of structure in the co-operating parts of theengine, to conservation of heat, and generally to a more efficient andeconomical distribution and utilization of steam. Moreover, the valve,by reason of 'its structural features, is applicable to a Wide range oftypes of engines of the class indicated.

Mechanism illustrating my invention is shown in the accompanying`drawings, in Which- Figure l is a partial vertical section, in thecommon axial plane of the cylinders, of a common type of compoundengines having a high and a low pressure cylinder with doubleactingreciprocating pistons coupled to the same shaft, the valve being shownin crosssection; Fig. 2, a transverse section of the cylinders throughthe axial plane of the valve; Figs. 3 and Il, diagram sections showingthe constructive arrangement of the valve-chest ports in an isometricplane, with the valve at opposite positions of its reciprocation.

One of the leading principles of my improvement is the economy of heatand consequent increase of efficiency in thc engine by separating in thevalve structure the ports and passages devoted, first, tosteam-induction; second, to expansion over, and, third, to iinalexhaust, these being entirely independent and arranged relatively intheir natural order, as here named. These ports and passages beingindependent of eachother, proper compression can be obtained, and alsoheatis conserved to a much greater degree than in structures where thedifferent functions are performed by and in the same Valve-passages Theconstruction is such also as enables a single valve to perform theentire distributive functions of two or more cylinders Withgreatfacility and with the advantages named.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in aid of the followingdescription, A B, Figs. 1 and 2, designate the cylinders, respectively,of a compound engine having one high and one low pressure cylinder withdouble-acting pistons A B', coupling to oppositely-set cranks of acommon crank-shaft S. The type being common, I need not detail thestructure except as related to the construction and arrangementof valveand ports.

The distribution-valve C is a reciprocating piston-valve operating in acylindrical valvechest D, arranged, by preference, between the cylindersat mid-length and perpendicular (or approximately so) tothe common axialplane of the cylinders.

The valve C consists of an elongated piston having three circumferentialgrooves c c2 o3 in consecutive order, separated by interveningpartitions 2.72293, carrying packing-rings fr, numbered (with others tobe referred to later) as hereinafter stated.

Beginning with vthe live-steam end of the valve C, the live-steampassage C is an open groove bounded laterally at one sideby the endpartition p of the valve, carrying packing-rings r r2, and at the otherby the intervening partition p2, carrying a packing-ring r3. Next inconsecutive order is the expansion-passage c2, bounded at thelive-steamside by the partition p2, carrying the packing-ring r3, (as stated,) andat the other by the partition p3, carrying the packing-ring r4. Thisgroove is open at each end outwardly adjacent to the partitions p2p?,but covered centrally by a shell S', connected across thecircumferential openings by suitable bridges b and closely fitting thevalve-cylinder C, but without packing-rings, the groove forming alongitudinal passage between its openings loeneath the shell S. Thethird and last in consecutive order is the exhaustgroove c3, bounded atthe expansion side by the partition p4 and opening at the other into theexhaust end of the valve-chest C, into which the exhaustpipe F enters.The groove c3 opens outwardly adjacent to the partition p3, but extendsthrough the exhaust end of the valve beneath a shell S2, carryingpacking-rings fri r6.

IOO

The construction of the valve chest and ports and the operation of thevalve may be best understood from the isometric diagrams, F1gs. 3 and 4.Live steam enters the chest through the opening L, with which the groovec 1s in constant communication. The passage CZ, leading to the top ofthe high-pressure cylinder, divides and enters the valvechest by twoports CZ cl2 in different planes, while the passage e, leading to thebottom of the high-pressure cylinder, enters the valvevchest at e midwaybetween the planes of the ports d cl2. The passage f, leading to thebottom of the low-pressure cylinder, divides and enters the valve-chestby two ports f f2 in different planes, while the passage g, leading` tothe top of the low-pressure cylinder, enters the valve-chest by the portg midway between the plane of the ports ff2. In the position of thevalve shown in Fig. 3 steam from the boiler flows into the valve-chestD, through the groove c of the valveintotheport d (the port d2 beingclosed by the shell S) and passage cl, and to the upper end of thehigh-pressure cylinder A, above the piston A', and drives the samedownward. At the same time the steam beneath the piston A by expansionflows through the port and passage e c, through the expansion-passage c2of the valve across to the port f2 and passage f, (the portf beingclosed by the shell S2,) and enters the bottom of the low-In'essnrecylinder, driving the piston B upward. In the 'opposite position of thevalve the course of the live steam is through valve-passage c',cylinder-port e', and passage e to the bottom of the high-pressurecylinder, while the course of the expansion steam is back throughpassage d, port d2, valve-passage c2, cylinderport g, and passage g totop of low-pressure cylinder.

The valve is applicable to a wide range of types, which I have notthought it necessary to illustrate. v

I have given preference to the arrangement of the valve-chest betweenthe cylinders and perpendicular to their common axial plane,

because the valve-chest is thus brought into a central uniform relationwith all the ports and passages. This, however, is not essential, as thevalve may be arranged vertically between the cylinders and operated by adirect connection with the eccentric or wholly at one side of the twocylinders, either parallel or at right angles to their common axialplane.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States- 1. In a compound engine, in combination with the workingcylinders and their pistons, a single reciprocating self-balancedpistonvalve having a live-steam port, an expansionport, and anexhaust-port wholly within the.

limits of the valve, adapted to perform the several functions ofsteam-induction, expansion over, and final exhaust of steam for thecylinders in common, substantially as set forth.

2. In a compound engine having two cylinders or sets of cylinders in acommon plane, a reciprocating piston-valve adapted to perform theseveral functions of steam-induction, expansion over, and final exhaustfor the cylinders in common, arranged between the cylinderstransverselyacross and through their common axial plane, substantially as set forth.l

3. A distribution-valve for compound engines, consisting,substantially,of a reciprocating balanced piston-valve having a livesteam passage, anexpansion-passage, and an exhaust-passage arranged in longitudinalsuccession in the order named wholly within the limits of the valve,each being complete and independent, in combination with asuitablyported seat whereby the several functions are performed in andby said valve-passages, each appropriated exclusively to its properfunction, substantially as set forth.

4. A self-balanced piston-valve for effecting the induction, expansionover, and exhaust for compound engines, having a livesteam passage nearone end, an expansionpassage central, and an exhaust-passage near theopposite end, all within the limits of the valve, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN II. EICKERSHOFR Witnesses:

L. M. HosEA, E. HosEA.

